Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Egypt - MENA 2025 program!
If you could use a structured process and feedback from Cairo's top entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Egypt - MENA 2025 Founder Institute today.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the critical support network and structured process needed to build an enduring company. Since 2009, the program has helped over 7,500 Graduates raise over $1.85BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more.
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events in Cairo, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 3:00am, Apr 29, 2025 (Africa/Cairo): https://FI.co/e/366726
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 3:00am, May 06, 2025 (Africa/Cairo): https://FI.co/e/370097
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 3:00am, May 08, 2025 (Africa/Cairo): https://FI.co/e/366594
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 8:00pm, May 12, 2025 (Africa/Cairo): https://FI.co/e/366392
- Future-proofing CPG Brands: Key Strategies for Sustainable Growth: 5:00pm, May 15, 2025 (Africa/Cairo): https://FI.co/e/370964
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, May 26, 2025 (Africa/Cairo): https://FI.co/e/370440
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 8:00pm, Jun 02, 2025 (Africa/Cairo): https://FI.co/e/370913
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 3:00am, Jun 10, 2025 (Africa/Cairo): https://FI.co/e/370863
The Cairo program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Gamal Sadek (CEO, The Fit Foundry), and Rafeh Saleh (Founder, ConsultingPad.com).
In addition, some of Cairo's top entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors will be participating in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Cairo Founder Institute includes:
- Ahmad Santarissy: CEO, We The Makers LLC
- Ahmed Nassef: Founder, Leadsmart
- Alessandra Scicchitano: Founder, AURES, and Lecturer, Swiss Business School
- Alex Pavel: Managing Director - Middle East, Africa and Asia, Pagero
- Ana Bibikova: Founder
- Andreas Schumacher: Artificial Intelligence , Munich Re
- Arthur Gusev: Founder and CEO, Launch Deck
- Basmah Osman: Executive Coach / Facilitator , FekrKhan (coaching and training co.)
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Chad Fox: Managing Partner, Fox Ventures
- Charles Shaban: Consultant, Self
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Christian Vezjak: Co-founder & CEO, TAP
- Dan D'souza: Intrapreneurship and New Ventures Senior Manager, L Marks
- Dav Masaon: Co-Founder , Zanda
- Deep Moteria: Founder , Elluminati
- Elia Nuqul: Owner, Investor, Mentor, Co-Founder, Nuqul Group
- Fahed Qteishat: Associate Director, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
- Filip Karwala: Co-founder, Partner, Move Ventures
- Gaelle Yammine: Associate, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
- Grant Felgenhauer: Managing Partner, Euphrates Ventures
- Hamdi Tabbaa: Co-founder and CEO , Abwaab
- Hanan Shahin: Co-Founder & CEO , BLOOMit
- Hasan Ahmad: Consultant, Hasan Ahmad
- Hussam Hammo: CEO & Founder, Tamatem Games
- Irina Baskova: Growth coach for B2B sales and go-to-market., independent consultant.
- Ivan Ivanka: CEO / General Partner, i1x Venture Studio / Camel Capital
- Ivan Hoo: Owner, IHAYO
- Jad El Boustani: Managing Director, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
- Karim Djerboa: Business Development Specialist, MAVENTERSE
- Laura Olivier Khudairi: Executive Director, Iraq Tech Ventures
- Lauren Jane Heller: Executive Leadership Coach, On Deck/ Iberdrola Australia
- Loek Daemen: Presentation Skills Trainer & Founder , Pitch Perfect
- Luis Ferreira: Mentor, FI
- Maher Kaddoura: Investor, Al Jude
- Marie Therese Fam: Partner, Silicon Badia
- Marisa Bryce: CEO, Jack and Blue Capital
- Michael Makdah, Eskonomy
- Michael Ho: Founder , Ventures Cubed
- Nela Dunato: Brand Designer, Nela Dunato Art & Design
- Nidal Bitar: Chief Executive Officer, ICT Association of Jordan - int@j
- Nikola Korać: CEO, Downstream Business Solutions
- Omar Tabbaa: Chairman / CEO, Eat Holding
- Paul Turken: Professor, Marketing & Strategy of Business School Netherlands
- Philippe Linus Petit: Public Speaking Expert & Storytelling Coach
- Raja Mawad: Founder, Thrv.health
- Rami Essaid: CEO, Finmark
- Rawaz Rauf: Partner, Euphrates Ventures
- Rishi Sharma: West Coast Lead , Newlin VC
- Roberto Croci: Regional Startups Enabler, .
- Ruba Darwish: Operations Manager, BMB Jordan
- Ruba Fakhouri: Psychological , Counseling
- Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
- Samer Arabiat: Consultant
- Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
- Saumya Bhatnagar: CTO & Co-Founder, Involve.ai
- Shaun Gold: Entrepreneur, storyteller, GP at Improve Ventures, Improve Ventures
- Sokmean Nou: Front End Services Lead, Acrisure
- Tamer Al Salah: Managing Director, BeyondCapital
- Tarek Roushdy: Angel Investor, UI Investments
- Tariq El Titi: Managing Director , Janus Ventures
- Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
- Vaios Gkitsas: Founder , The Upset Partners
- Vincent Marsland: Senior Founder Success Manager, Communitech
- Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
- Zeid Husban: Serial Entrepreneur | 2 Exits | Experienced Leader | Angel Investor
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is designed for founders and teams all throughout the pre-seed stage, including aspiring founders with a full-time job, solo founders, teams, and founders of established companies that are pre-funding. The Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Join us in Cairo to build a great company in 2019.
Apply to the Egypt - MENA 2025 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
